OT: NASCAR - Sprint Cup Discussion.

*** Disclaimer*** - This is a thread for the fans of NASCAR Racing. If you feel like you want to troll the thread with the same old comments or whatnot, please stop and think for a minute - Bicycle racing (namely high profile road) has alot of similarities and even less people understand it compared to NASCAR - and don't get me started on the 'nut-job' fan-base .
If you know what you're talking about, Welcome! - even negative criticism! / disclaimer.
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So, Who here is a NASCAR fan?
Who's your driver?
How'd you get into NASCAR?
Champ series thoughts?

Let's GO! Boogity-Boogity-Boogity!!! - AMEN

Well, I think this chase-race is one of the best so far - some races a bit boring - Esp. rain postponed ones
Anyways, the points are so tight and the position swaps have been nail-biting, and tho disappointing for some of you (not in the chase) -I am exited!.

I'm rooting for *future* 6-Time Champ JJ48!
I've been following JJ and the 48 team since it was announced that the locally known (San Diego at that time) Baja and Dirt bike racer was gonna race NASCAR - Pretty big news for a local .
My sis's new family was into NASCAR - My mom was getting into it too. - I needed so have something to add to the conversation when 'home' on visits. - That began the infection

--ALSO-- RIP to Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon and Condolences to his friends and Family.Dan Wheldon died in a massive pile-up this last Sunday at LVMS doing what he loved.

I love watching NASCAR although since we cancelled our TV earlier this year I haven't been able to follow it at all. Serious withdrawls.

My car and driver are #24 Jeff Gordon. I like how he has progressed through the years and is pretty much the Don of the new "old guard". Great driver on the track.

I got into it because I love racing of any kind and really like auto racing. I wanted to know what all the hoopla was surrounding NASCAR so pretty much just sat down on the couch a couple of weekends in a row and grew to love it.

delll,
Thanks for mentioning the passing of Dan Wheldon, RIP. A very talented and nice guy. Thoughts and best wishes for his wife and young sons.

As for cup,
imo, Jimmy stepped on his Johnson last sat. night. Sorry, that was too easy. He should'nt have tried passing "no quarter newman" that late in the race if he wasn't sure. He has dug a hole too deep! I am not a fan, but he is an awesome driver and the team is his equal. Many props to them for what they have accomplished since they started in cup. He earned my respect.

The champ will be either Edwards, Kenseth or Harvick.
I have my doubts if Harvick can finish the season off without a meltdown or pissing match with someone. KB is my favorite driver, not so much off the track but his talent is huge and he is fun to watch. He will have to win at least 2 races to have a shot and that is going to be tough. I think the nascar needs drop one of those stupid cookie cutter oval tracks and add a road course like road america to spice up the chase. What you think?

That reminds me of a tv story on the same driver Carl Edwards and a couple of his buddies from missouri riding mtb's for like 200 miles of old tow path to go to the next race. They stopped unanounced at his sponsor at the time Save A Lot's headquarters to say hi and shower in the corporate fountian out front on the way to the track. Edwards is probably the strongest and fittest of all nascar drivers.

STT GUY, I got to see a day race at bristol about 10 years ago and there is nothing like155,000 seats surrounding a 1/2 mile oval.

dth656, Juantoya has done well, with one road course win and super competitive once in a while on select tracks, but overall hasn't really won over many fans or drivers and tends to get into alot of snafu's.

also not a NASCAR fan, BUT i am curious as to how Juan Pablo Montoya ended up doing after leaving F1? is he competitive at all? Was he well received by fans?

Ah WPM... yeah...he's competitive - probably one of the better open-wheel transplants - ESP on the road courses.
He's pretty well received IMO...he's had his share of 'controversial' interactions w/ other drivers - but is not the whiner like Kyle bytch is

Ah WPM... yeah...he's competitive - probably one of the better open-wheel transplants - ESP on the road courses.
He's pretty well received IMO...he's had his share of 'controversial' interactions w/ other drivers - but is not the WINNER like Kyle Busch is

I was raised on a healthy diet of World Of Outlaws sprint car racing at an early age. We spent every weekend at tracks like Calistoga and Badlands.
J. Gordon fan here. But really I'll go for almost anybody but that has-been (never was?) Fale Jr.
My wife is a Stewart fan. We go to Infineon every year with our daughters.
The wife and I have talked about when the girls are out of the house, buying an RV and following NASCAR for one year, going to every race. It would not be cheap, but oh boy it would be fun
A lot of cyclists get this attitude about NASCAR that there is nothing to it, its just guys driving in circles. Auto racing is physically demanding. It requires very fit drivers with lightning fast reflexes. To be able to drive at 200 mph, react to whats going on around you, cope with massive G forces pushing down on you, understand how the car is working at those speeds and relay that feedback to the crew, oh ya and do it for 3 - 5 hours, serious atheletes.

Brew,
I got to see the World of Outlaws three different times when they made the winter swing through FL years ago and that is racing like most people have never seen! 1400lb car with 800 horsepower racing on dirt, what a show I was a fan of Doug Wolfgang and Jack Hewitt back in the day.

I raced carts as a kid and was lucky enough to get to work part time on a nationwide team in 96 & 97. Traveled with the team for the first 5 races of 96 and kept stats and milage during those races. I got to be the spotter at the atlanta race and have never been more nervous. It takes a calm person with eyes like a hawk to do that job. I think alot of people see race cars going around in circles on TV and think "how dumb and boring". That's what I think when I see golf, bowling and tennis on TV. Some sports just never appeal to some people and that's cool. The people I have a beef with are the ones who get it but think that it's easy to do. I think the average person would leave a hersey bar in their hanes after just one lap at full speed just sitting in a nascar sprint cup car.

I still like nascar but don't follow it like I use to. I watch a few races at tracks I like and the chase, but that's about it. Even though the competition is better now than ever, I enjoyed it alot more before they tried to make it such a major sport.

+2 Dale Jr. fan!
I'm a gear head and love most motorsports
I became a Dale Sr. #3 when I saw him make that infield pass at Daytona in the Mt. Dew car. still a dew fan! When Sr. got killed at Daytona, I still loved the Ernhardt memory and name so I startedf following Jr. I think he was a bettter driver whn Sr. was still alive.

Ive always followed indy cars,but hated the IRL CART fiasco. It was truely heartbreaking to have to watch the Las Vegas crash over in over just hoping upon hope that there would be a positive outcome.
They reallly need a indy car of the future and more improvements to that catch fence.(catch your head) and racing rules. Ive been a Danica fan after seeing her lead the Indy 500 in her rookie year.. I'm glad she is moving Nascar, the cars may be ugly but they way more safer.(they have roofs and are made of metal)

I'm a Kyle hater!! I also hate the look of the COT. I cant wait for the new bodies for 2013. Camaro, Mustangs, Challenger and Yuk! Camry.
Ive been to a couple of Cup races at Calif Speedway. Ive seen them loose it sideways at 170 mph coming off of 4. wow! that is crazy. We should do a meet up next year. Maybe Harvic or Edwards will spin Kyle in front of our bleacher! Ha ha!

Always been a Jr. fan...didn't become a NASCAR fan until I moved here to North Carolina in 2000. Had been to the Daytona 500 before that, but more to just be at the event itself (have been to several Indy events...my preferred form of racing before the split of the series).

After Senior died (WASN'T a Big E fan), you cannot believe the reaction in this state. I went to Wendy's the night that he died, and there were several fans driving around holding three fingers out their car window...still makes me chuckle...as it continued for a month or so.

Saw grown men cry.

So curiosity took over, and I started following his son...

Why?

If I were a driver...I'd probably be a lot like he is...too bad he doesn't run like daddy though...and put some people out of races that are in front of them...

The only reason I say that is that he is the "home town boy". Carl grew up 3 miles from me and although we have never met I can't not cheer for the guy. Even though I really could care less about nascar.

NASCAR rules!!! Been watching it since '93 when I moved to North Carolina from England, and coincidentally moved next door to Mike Wallace, who won the truck race at Talladega 10/22...last time Mike won a truck race was Homestead, which I live close to now and I was there in the winner's circle after the race! That was fun, but agreed nothing is as fun as a night race at Bristol, especially in the beat 'em up days of the 90's!! I was there in '96, and also got to hang in the garage and pits before the race, I miss having that accessability to racing...

Back then I was all about Mark Martin, class act driver, and still is, but I always pull for the Roush stables, so my current #1 is Edwards, glad to see he is staying consistent, but he's gonna need to push hard really soon, because those ravenous wolves behind him wont't let their feet off the gas...

I have also been to many Coke 600's, mello yellow and lowes 500's, darlington, rockingham, atlanta, daytona 500 in '96 and 2008, and 3 homestead races. I aldo did the Petty driving experience and drove a stock car around Atlanta for 8 laps...I LOVE THIS SPORT!! And will be taking my son when he is a little older.

Can I say it again? Fvck Kyle Busch! What a dillhead on his actions at the Texas truck race, takes out a championship contender and thinks it ok. I'm glad they kicked his ass out of Texas for the rest of the weekend. Luckily Ron H wasn't injured in that crash, it was a hard lick head on into the corner wall.

Can I say it again? Fvck Kyle Busch! What a dillhead on his actions at the Texas truck race, takes out a championship contender and thinks it ok. I'm glad they kicked his ass out of Texas for the rest of the weekend. Luckily Ron H wasn't injured in that crash, it was a hard lick head on into the corner wall.

my .02

Yep, that was one low class exhibition. I believe a suspension is warranted in this case.

Can I say it again? Fvck Kyle Busch! What a dillhead on his actions at the Texas truck race, takes out a championship contender and thinks it ok. I'm glad they kicked his ass out of Texas for the rest of the weekend. Luckily Ron H wasn't injured in that crash, it was a hard lick head on into the corner wall.

my .02

And Hornaday is a class act - total bummer
FCUK the 18

for those who are wondering what this is about...
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Scrub, are you saying that Ky***** is out of Texas even for the Cup race?

This guy is such a little puke. He's got a target on his back while he is on the track, payback is a biatch!
I want to see Danica punch his lights out. The funny thing is, this may happen! I would rate this as an even girl fight.heh heh!

Having been to a couple races and hearing thousands of people boo in unison when he's introduced I wonder if Kyle Busch even has fans? I mean, I understand he's a good driver when he's on his game but damn he's such a whiny little b i tch most of the time. Not to mention reckless in a bad way.

are you serious?
that's BLANTANT misconduct @over 150 MPH - you can kill someone - It wasn't 'racing' they were well into CAUTION.

Did you hear his CC over the radio telling him to calm down? repeatedly?
It took a couple-thousand feet to spear the 33 into the wall

Of course I am serious. Part of allowing 'Boys have at it' is understanding that the racers are going to regulate each other out on the race track. They are going to take each other out of races. I agree with holding Busch a few laps, maybe parking him for the rest of the race, but barring him from the other races is too much.

Of course I am serious. Part of allowing 'Boys have at it' is understanding that the racers are going to regulate each other out on the race track. They are going to take each other out of races. I agree with holding Busch a few laps, maybe parking him for the rest of the race, but barring him from the other races is too much.

It was UNDER CAUTION - there is no 'boys have at it' at that point.
It is akin to a late hit/personal foul long after the play has been whistled dead in football.

Yes, I'm a NASCAR fan, watching nearly all races since the mid '80's when I was racing sports cars and wanted to learn more about long corners and side by side racing.

Weekend suspension for Kyle Bush was fair, for causing the wall impact during caution. If during green, it would have been tolerated as many others have done the same or worse during the green. If no wall contact and not in pit road during the caution, no penalty, if given consistently. I bet there was much more truck owner history behind that poorly timed retaliation move, as Kyle said immediately after the wreck that he was sorry that it was Horniday in the truck.

Coming from road racing, I'm a fan of the road racers trying to win ovals too, Montoya since F1, Robby Gordon, Johnson, Ambrose, Speed, Almendinger, Papis, Piquet. The oval roots drivers are getting pretty good getting around a road course by themselves, but still don't know how to win on road without taking out the expert road drivers. Kane using a qualifying line left the door wide open for Montoya in 2 at Sears this year taking Montoya out of the chance to win again, then Kaslowski had a fit and maliciously ran into the driver's door after being passed cleanly by Montoya later. The announcers don't have a clue about road either. Montoya has a huge bank of paybacks due to "give out", but he is very smart and knows his place as a second-class token ethnic allowed to run mid-pack and occasionally near the front for the huge south of the border and world wide fan base he brings.

I like the Chase, except the Chase should have it's own points between them, a real playoff including a road course, without the points lost to non chase drivers.

Wish they'd have multiple shorter races or two shorter points races each weekend, never more than 300 miles on big tracks, with possible exceptions for Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400. More like the Shootout, have a couple Semi-Mains to qualify for position in a Main event except with everyone in the Main. Single car qualifying is boring. Now after a flurry at the start for 20 to 30 miles, they just cruise around for 400 miles and begin the real racing at 50 miles to go.

Just when it gets somewhat tolerable to see Kyle Busch out front leading races (anyone but Johnson!), he goes and pulls some bonehead stunt like this and gets himself parked.

Seriously, it seemed to me that he wasn't trying to stuff Hornaday into the outside wall, but merely rattle his cage. Looked to me that Hornaday did something Kyle wasn't expecting, then Kyle got ahead in his steering putting them both into the fence. Very similar to the Burton/Gordon incident under caution. Only Busch took off and didn't take on the air boxing match like a man. Or something.

why he got suspended was not because of bumping and all. they do that and while its not the cleanest of racing its not to bad annoying yes. but the deliberate for a better term pit maneuver him head on into a wall at that speed is a much more dangerous thing. even with all those safety measures just a little bad luck and youre looking at brain damage or spinal damage from a impact at those speeds.

edit: he knew what he was doing. when you hit someones rear side like that there is only really 1 outcome. a major turn to the right and as close as they were to the wall and speed its pretty much 100% hes going to slam into it headon

My boss asked me to share this: The recent actions by Kyle Busch are not consistent with the values of M&M'S and we're very disappointed. Like you, we hold those who represent our brand to a higher standard and we have expressed our concerns directly to Joe Gibbs Racing.

im a nice guy but if you did that to me...i think id seriously resort to beating the crap out of him or at least knocking him on his ass then walking away. racing is dangerous enough with the bumping and stuff already but to do that on purpose and risk my life because your paint got scratched? oh heck no and there is no way you can say it wasnt on purpose. he even admitted it in his pathetic apology.

and some real dip*****s defending him. I like watching the punk race but this can't be excused

@EZRider 19 "Kurt Bush Sucks!"

Yeah, that's why I couldn't believe why Brewtality was defending him - there is NO good excuse. It is not 'Boys have at it' under caution.
(FWIW, Brewtality, I am not calling you a dipshlt - at all...I just don't understand why you thought/think it's OK. I know you make good posts here and I think highly of you)

Annnnnd, let's just say, Hornaday happened to have died - there is no exclusion to manslaughter. There was clearly intent to wreck him. I would bet that the telemetry of would show that Ron was lifted and Kyle was full into the gas. KB is smart enough to know juse what EXACTLY pushing on the right quarter-panel will do - send the 'car' ahead directly in the wall.
I hope M&M and Interstate pull their sponsorship and JGR Fires KB. I'm not just basing this on my dislike of KB, but the core reason of my dislike...His years of doooshy comments of 'Entitlement' and how he does no wrong. Yeah, he's a great driver - that can't be denied - but no one is entitled or w/out fault.

People don't boo him because he's the dark-hat villain he thinks he is, rather - people recognize ass-hats when they see them.

Yeah, that's why I couldn't believe why Brewtality was defending him - there is NO good excuse. It is not 'Boys have at it' under caution.
(FWIW, Brewtality, I am not calling you a dipshlt - at all...I just don't understand why you thought/think it's OK. I know you make good posts here and I think highly of you)

We're all good highdelll
As for Busch, I love watching him handle race cars that others could not make a lap in, and win races with like that. He has more driving ability than many NASCAR drivers combined.
I will not deny that he is an impetuous, snotty, pouty little brat sometimes. He has wrecked a lot of race cars.
I don't see Gibbs releasing Busch. He wins races. A lot more than the other Gibbs drivers combined. He makes the chase on a regular basis (can't do anything in the chase, but thats another story).
Its not like there is a bunch of chase quality drivers looking for work right now. Who would Gibbs replace Busch with? Reutiman? McDowell? Cassill? Good luck attracting sponsors with second or third tier drivers like that.
M&Ms and Interstate are not Busch's only sponsors. Z-Line Design, Marquee Jets, Pedrgree & Wrigley's all share space on his Cup cars. I doubt they would all leave a proven winner. Despite the bad headlines, he is still getting them coverage. Their logos still show up in Victory Lane on a regular basis. If one or two sponsors leave, Gibbs will find others. It won't be easy, but somebody will step up and put their logo on his car.
Busch will come out of this OK. Obviously he is $50K lighter. I am sure he is getting in some long chats with Gibbs, some heart felt apologies to his sponsors and he is going to have to watch his rearview mirror carefully. No doubt that Harvick is going to be gunning for him more than ever. But he will be ok.

^^ I agree that that's how it could play-out (and probably will) - and that he's a GREAT driver, but the revocation of a major -hood sponsor would send KB a good wake-up call - 'we don't NEED you' - truth is, they don't... There are good up'and'comers that can benefit.

Yeah, there's the saying 'even bad publicity is publicity', major corps don't have to tow that line.

**On another note...**$50k? - that's like docking a beer out of my 12-pk - yeah, it kinda sucks... but I have 11 beers still and I can get more...